Running head: EMBASSY SECURITY 1 Embassy Security John K. Doku, Jr American Military University Dr. Robert Pittman Security Management Capstone 8/4/2017 EMBASSY SECURITY 2 Abstract U.S. embassies and consulates in many foreign locations have always been a target of terrorist attacks and other criminal activities. The attacks attack on these embassies has not been a problem that the U.S. has started facing recently but an issue that has been in happening since the evolution of diplomatic activities between nations. The most recalled attack on the U.S. embassy was in Benghazi, Libya attack that claimed the life of Ambassador Christopher Stevens and other U.S citizen. The Beirut, Lebanon attack on the U.S embassy also claimed lives of both American nationals and locals. Therefore, these attacks have led to a series of questions about the security measures implemented at the embassies in high-risk environments. In the series of these events, the landscape designs of embassy facility have come under criticism for as they do not reflect the functions of the embassies. The aim of this study is to explore the best security alternative that can provide maximum security to American embassies while all are together upholding the image, goals, and values of the host country. EMBASSY SECURITY 3 Table of Contents Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 4 Literature Review............................................................................................................................ 6 Assessing the Threat ................................................................................................................... 7 Embassy Security Construction .................................................................................................. 8 Physical Security......................................................................................................................... 9 Deployment of Marines and Mobile Security........................................................................... 10 Problem Statement ........................................................................................................................ 10 Purpose Statement ......................................................................................................................... 11 Research Questions ....................................................................................................................... 11 Hypothesis Statements .................................................................................................................. 11 Research Proposal Variable .......................................................................................................... 12 Objectives ..................................................................................................................................... 12 Research Methodology ................................................................................................................. 12 Research Design........................................................................................................................ 13 References ......................................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined. EMBASSY SECURITY 4 Introduction An embassy is regarded as the nerve center of a nation’s diplomatic activities within the borders of another country, serving as the headquarters of the chief of mission, staff and other organizations. American embassies and consulates in foreign countries have a special status because they represent the sovereign state as much as the diplomatic spaces remain to be the territory of the host country (Dahl, 2013). Apart from the obvious functions of providing visas and helping American citizens in foreign countries, the consulate and the embassy interact with host administration, private citizens, non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, and local businesses to create a positive response to the American policy and U.S in general. Since U.S officers are normally allocated to a foreign nation for few years, it is important for the U.S to hire citizens from the host nation to fill certain positions in the consulates and embassies. Known as Locally Employed Staff, they ensure that missions of the embassy are fulfilled. The United States has around 285 diplomatic facilities in foreign locations, and attacks on embassies and other diplomatic personnel have been frequent of late. As Dahl (2013) indicates, renewed attention has been focused on the security challenges facing U.S. embassies and the problems of balancing the security concerns and the outreach needed for their duties after a series of attacks on these facilities and personnel. The death of Ambassador Christopher Stevens and other U.S citizen in Benghazi, Libya in 2012 together with other attacks on U.S. embassies in Yemen, Egypt, Tunisia, and Sudan has indicated the inability to provide adequate security by the current security frameworks put in place. Since President Reagan’s Administration, attacks on U.S embassies have been frequent where in each attack, a significant number of both U.S. and non-U.S. citizens perish. In 1983, the U.S. embassy in Beirut, Lebanon was rammed into by truck of a suicide bomber killing 63 people including 17 American citizens. The worst of all EMBASSY SECURITY 5 attacks occurred in the 1990s as four incident attacks were aimed at American embassies when Al Qaeda attacked the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania on August 7. 1998. The Nairobi bombing claimed the lives 224 locals and 12 American nationals while the Dares Salaam bombing claimed ten lives of the locals (Dahl, 2013). According to the reciprocal treaty responsibilities, the host country is obligated to give security for the embassies of the sending states. However, there have been circumstances where the host countries have not been fully committed or unable to meet this requirement due to poor security frameworks or inadequate cooperation between the country and the U.S. Such instances have left U.S. embassies vulnerable forcing the Federal government to use a layered approach to security and other additional measures such as hardened facilities, Diplomatic Security agents, and sometimes the detachment of the U.S. Marine Security Guard. This follows the rapid growth of American nationals being sent to high-risk areas such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iraq spurring an increased investment in the security of such individuals. It’s the role of the DS (Bureau of Diplomatic Security) to address these security concerns in high-risk areas. Due to such cases of increased attacks directed at the U.S. embassies and consulates, the DS needs to evaluate and enhance the security features around the embassies in foreign locations because, in every attack that occurs, American nationals are the target. The U.S through the DS has put in place the latest physical security measures such as transparent window grille that has bullet-proof resistant strips, construction of a gate that can endure a 50-mile crash and other options to protect embassy buildings against fire. According to Demkin (2014), other improvements involve the provision of streaming videos from cameras positioned at U.S missions around the globe. Irrespective of such measures, the U.S embassies are still defenseless when it comes to terrorists’ threats that are targeted to American facilities and nationals. The EMBASSY SECURITY 6 U.S. government should consider implementing state-of-the-art security measures that will prevent any targeted attack from happening. Apart from the installation of the surveillance cameras, construction of perimeter walls, and anti-ram vehicle barriers, the government has shipped the Hardened Alternative Trailer Systems (HATS) that offer safe non-permanent structures during attacks or natural disasters. These HATS will be utilized as safe havens, housing, and offices they are supplied with necessities such as electricity, computer connectivity, and water (Demkin, 2014). These HATS are installed in areas of high risks such as Syria, Pakistan, and Sudan since they are part of the wide-ranging obligation that the DS meets as a diplomatic role in high-risk environments. In places such as Islamabad, Pakistan where suicidal bombs are common, these security upgrades will offer sanctuary to all the people during an attack as they feature defensive weapons systems, hardened guard towers, and Tactical Operations Center. Therefore, the aim of this thesis proposal is to analyze other security considerations that would ensure that American embassies in high-risk environments are safe. This is because these construction designs tend to portray these embassies as a fortress instead of depicting them as a contact and connection point between the U.S. government and its citizens living in host nation or between the host nations. So, these embassies are unable to maintain their representational role as demonstrations of the best image of the U.S and also limited the U.S diplomatic activities (Demkin, 2014). The proposal highlights new measures that are aimed at providing the best security measures while upholding the mission and goals of the embassies and consulates. Literature Review Hurley (2017) illustrates that the protection of the U.S embassies and personnel from criminals and terrorist falls under the duties of the Secretary of the State as indicated in the 1998 EMBASSY SECURITY 7 Omnibus Diplomatic Security and Antiterrorism Act. According to the regulation, the required personnel should create and implement policies and programs that provide state-of-the-art security to U.S. diplomatic operations (Hurley, 2017). Reporting to the Secretary of the State is the Assistant Secretary of Diplomatic Security who in in charge of the Bureau for Diplomatic Security (DS). Within this structure, the DS has many tasks such as instituting and operating protective and security functions overseas, emergency planning, and establishing and executing technical and physical security programs like armored vehicles, security-related construction, and personnel security communications. The DS offers security and protection to more than 237 consulates and embassies (Hurley, 2017). The Bureau has a team of special agents known as regional security officers whose duties include providing first line defense to U.S diplomats, formulating emergency contingency plans, and managing security programs. These agents work closely with the Marine Security Guards, host government officials, surveillance detection teams, and local investigators to ensure that their mission is accomplished. In conjunction with Washington D.C, the D.S dispatches the Mobile Security Teams to areas vulnerable to terrorist attacks to train the embassy personnel as well as provide emergency security support in instances where the host nation is unwilling or unable to give the required level of security support (Hurley, 2017). Assessing the Threat According to the DS, U.S. embassies receive more than 1,000 security threats per year (Hurley, 2017). Based on the level of the threat, four threat categories inform the DS they type of threat including residential and non-residential crimes, terrorism, and political violence then a rating is allocated to each category. The protective measures put in place are depended on the level of the overall threat. They include: EMBASSY SECURITY ▪ Critical; pose a grave impact on the American diplomat ▪ High: serious impact on the American diplomat ▪ Medium: moderate impact on the American diplomat ▪ Low: minor impact on American Diplomats. 8 Embassy Security Construction The bombing of U.S. embassies Tanzania and Kenya in 1998 resulted in a period of careful congressional analysis of the construction of embassies. After conducting investigations, the Department of State concluded that more than 80% of its embassies and consulates across the globe did not fulfill the security requirements and should be replaced. Therefore, the Congress allocated a special funding to the construction of the embassies that would deter any criminal activities. As much as more than 100 embassies all over the world were designed and constructed according the required strategy, the designs have received criticism because of the highly secured facilities indicate an unpleasant, unwelcoming, and closed fortress image of the U.S (Demkin, 2014). These designs also tended to locate the embassies away from the urban areas because implementing the required standard embassy design required a lot of spacing that was only available in remote areas. So, these embassies were unable to maintain their representational role as demonstrations of the best the U.S and also limited the U.S diplomatic activities (Demkin, 2014). The fearful posture presumed by the U.S embassies in many developing countries is a cause for concern. As much as the country is touting the vital need of better diplomacy, the State Department is constructing embassies that don’t reflect the agenda because the inaccessibility and modern standardized designs are damaging the efforts to depict America as an open society. While no one argues that necessity of increased security is important for everyone, designing EMBASSY SECURITY 9 faceless architecture makes one a target by terrorist. For instance, having established that they could not access the American consular compound in Istanbul, terrorists blew up the more accessible British embassy and a nearby bank in 2003 (Dahl, 2013). When we view security measures in such perspective, we realize that U.S. embassies are fortified thus making them a target. The design of the embassy in foreign location matters a lot because the buildings say a lot about us and when it comes to diplomatic affairs, what the U.S. says about itself matters a lot. The issue of security and openness is important as they represent the kind of security measures that need to be put in place so that the problem of insecurity can be resolved. For instance, the American embassy in Chile is like a fortress and does not represent the culture of Santiago. The State Department needs to revisit the Inman recommendations and build embassies based on those recommendations. For example, if they had fully understood them, then the London embassy that lacks the identified 100-foot setback would have been abandoned. The militarization of embassies is compromising the state of security in these facilities. It’s time for openness and security conversations to take place because a good architecture has the ability to lift the spirit and symbolize effective diplomacy (Argyros, Grossman, Rohatyn & Witkowsky, 2017). Physical Security The DS does not make public the security arrangements for individuals and locations but depends on the combination of host country contracted security forces to protect the outside perimeters of the diplomatic facilities. Together, with the Marine Security Guards, the DS posts new Marine Security Guards to U.S diplomatic facilities to prevent any compromise of the government equipment and information (Dahl, 2013). They also protect the U.S. personnel during attacks, and this was effected after the Benghazi attack when a memorandum between the EMBASSY SECURITY 10 Marine Corps and the Department of State was renegotiated to provide the protection to individuals as the primary mission of the Guards. When these detachments are deployed, they are usually in civilian authority and under a line of command that involves the Chief of Mission and the RSO. These detachments are important in preventing mob violence over a sustained period around the embassies and consulates because even fortified facilities can still be overpowered with the absence of the protection from such detachments. Deployment of Marines and Mobile Security The Mobile Security teams, under the DS respond to crises in external locations and remain there for the required period with no outside support. In dangerous environments where the embassies are located, the Mobile Security is important in providing security and other measures such as the evacuation of personnel from global hotspots (Dahl, 2013). Apart from these six-agent team, the deployment of Marine at embassies and consulates provides an agile response to any impending threat that may jeopardize the mission of the embassy. After the attack on the U.S embassy in Tunisia, the quick response demonstrated by the Marines demonstrated flawless actions that left more than 80n employees safe and the building still standing (Demkin, 2014). With the augmentation of the Special Skills Branch and the Mobile Security Deployment, the Marine receives retraining on current matters of security such as advanced room entry, tactical medicine, and security equipment. Problem Statement The frequent attacks on U.S embassies and industries abroad call for new security measures that will ensure that these facilities across the world are secure. Unfortunately, the current architectural designs have turned embassies into fortresses thus making them a target for terrorism. Additionally, they do not represent the cultural values of the host nation because of EMBASSY SECURITY 11 sophisticated security measures such as the installation of surveillance including CCTV cameras, using ant-blast materials, high perimeter walls and anti-ram vehicle barriers. The Inman recommendations are not considered during the construction of the embassies and consulates in most developing nations because these designs depict a negative image of the American society since embassies are not considered as a place of contact rather than a fortress. Therefore, there is a need to look for alternative security measures that will provide the best security measures while upholding the mission and goals of the embassies and consulates. Purpose Statement This research is significant and will bridge the gap existing between the new architectural designs of the U.S. embassies and security thereby answering the questions between Security Vs. Openness. There is little research that has been done in this areas, and the findings of the study will provide State Department with adequate information that can be used enhance security in the embassy while sending a positive message to the host nation. Research Questions 1. Does the current fortress–like structures of the various American embassies negatively affect the image of these embassies? 2. Is there a best security enhancement alternative that will ensure a positive image of these embassies to the host countries? 3. Which kind of architects’ design will offer the American embassies maximum protection while ensuring that it conforms to the values and culture of the host nation? 4. Can proper knowledge of the capabilities of security components and vulnerability of a facility site assist in making design decisions that are functional, aesthetic, and meeting security objectives? EMBASSY SECURITY 12 Hypothesis Statements This thesis proposal will proceed on the following hypothesis: If the State Department utilizes architectural designs that respect the culture and values of the host nations by employing innovative construction techniques that that would encourage openness, then security within U.S. embassies would improve. Research Proposal Variable Independent Variable: U.S embassies and consulates Dependent Variable: Security of the embassies Objectives 1. To critically assess the security threats that U.S. embassies face in high-risk environments 2. To analyze the current architectural designs that of the U.S. embassies in foreign locations. 3. To make recommendations to improve the architectural designs so that they respect the cultural values of the host nation, thereby encouraging openness. Research Methodology The research will dwell on qualitative methods of data collection because the thesis aims to illustrate the security options that the State Department should employ when tackling security concerns at the embassies. Also, the thesis aims to provide evidence on the expected outcomes in the event of an attack and the possible solutions that will assist the State Department in assessing the level of risks and reducing the vulnerability of the site. Qualitative methods will allow the researcher to conduct a thorough analysis of the findings of the study. Qualitative research methodology will use survey and questionnaire as a method of data collection thereby giving the researcher an opportunity to explore and analyze the feedback from a particular event. EMBASSY SECURITY 13 Observation as a qualitative research strategy will allow the researcher to get information about the landscape security practices and recommend options that solve the research questions. Research Design This research will proceed with quasi- experimental design that will determine the causeeffect relationship between U.S. embassies and their security. The cause-effect relationship results because the current landscape design of the embassies is believed to be the main cause of security threats. Therefore, the researcher will not manipulate the independent variable or assign groups to the treatment process. Control groups will be recognized and exposed to the variables, and the results will be compared with findings of groups that will not be exposed to the variable. EMBASSY SECURITY 14 References Argyros, G. L., Grossman, M., Rohatyn, F. G., Witkowsky, A., & Center for Strategic and International Studies (Washington, D.C.). (2017). The embassy of the future. Washington, D.C: CSIS Press. Dahl, E. J. (2013). Intelligence and surprise attack: Failure and success from Pearl Harbor to 9/11 and beyond. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press. Demkin, J. A. (2014). Security planning and design: A guide for architects and building design professionals. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. Hurley, A. K. (2017, May 5). Diplomatic design: New US embassies make an architectural statement. Retrieved July 6, 2017, from CNN Style: http://edition.cnn.com/2017/05/04/architecture/us-embassy-design/index.html
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